Mentorship Program

MENTORING PROGRAM FOR
Raising Canine, LLC’s
PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER COURSE

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Raising Canine Mentor. We place a premium on providing high quality, science based education to new dog trainers and we are excited to be able to add hands on experience to our online and teleconference program. Our mentoring program is designed to allow Mentees to observe you teaching in both private and group settings and to gain experience teaching both a private session and a group class under your guidance and oversight.

We understand that taking on a mentee, especially one that was trained by someone else, is an important decision that can directly affect your business. Therefore, we make every effort to give you discretion in how you deal with our Mentees. If you are uncomfortable with the Mentee for any reason, we encourage you to contact us immediately and discuss your concerns.

Additionally, although we pride ourselves on the preparation our Mentees receive before they begin the hands on portion of their training, we understand that when you allow a Mentee or apprentice to teach your clients, under your name, you need to feel comfortable and confident in their work. That is why we like to work with you and allow you to maintain some decision making power throughout this process. If, after working with one of our Mentees you feel that a particular Mentee is not qualified to train your clients, you can arrange other ways for them to get the experience that our mentor program is designed to accomplish. For instance, if you do not feel a Mentee is ready to help train in your group classes, you can arrange a group class for 3 to 4 of your non-dog-trainer friends or do a free class for former students of your, telling them in advance about the purpose of the class. We do ask that you not use other professional trainers as “mock owners,” because we want the Mentee to get a real taste of working with non-dog-professionals.

Responsibilities of Mentor

General

The Mentor trains using the CCPDT Humane Hierarchy as their methodological guide:

Mentor uses primarily positive reinforcement methods;

The Mentor does not use shock collars, prong collars, or electronic shock collars; and

If the Mentor feels it necessary to use a method other than positive reinforcement or counter conditioning and desensitization for a particular situation (negative reinforcement, for example), they can articulate (based on the Humane Hierarchy) their reason for using said method, and will not expose the Mentee to that particular situation

The Mentor has been a professional dog trainer and consultant for a minimum of three years.

The Mentor must pass a written examination administered by Raising Canine with a score of 80% or better.

The Mentor must submit a 5 minute training video to Raising Canine, training a behavior to be determined by Raising Canine. If Mentor has passed their CPDT-KSA exam, has graduated from the Karen Pryor Academy, is a Victoria Stillwell trainer, or has earned their CAP3 designation, this requirement will be waived.

The Mentor agrees to work with Mentee for a period no less than three months (during this time, the Mentor is not required to do anything more than outlined, however the Mentee will be allowed to observe as many group classes as desired).

The Mentor will give the Mentee 48 hours’ notice if an arranged meeting must be cancelled, unless a medical or other emergency prevents it.

The Mentor will provide Raising Canine with proof of insurance, showing that an apprentice/mentee is covered by the policy.

Private Consultations

The Mentor will take the Mentee to a minimum of:

1 house manners consultation;

1 puppy (under 5 months) consultation;

1 reactive dog consultation;

If the Mentor does not consult on one or more of the above issues, please contact Raising Canine so we can determine a way for the Mentee to gain that experience.

The Mentor and the Mentee will drive to and from the consultations in the same car so they can discuss the case.

The Mentor may take the Mentee on as many private consultations as the Mentor wishes; however, they are only required to take them on three visits.

The Mentor may enlist the aid of the Mentee during the consultation, keeping in mind the Mentee’s skill level.

Group Class

Mentor will allow Mentee to attend one round of group classes as a student bringing a dog that is appropriate to that class (the Mentee will present the dog to the Mentor to prescreen for appropriateness).

Mentor will allow Mentee to observe as many classes as the Mentee desires during the time they are working together.

Mentee will assist with a minimum of one class:

If Mentor wishes Mentee to assist with more than one class, Mentee may do so at their discretion, contingent upon availability;

Assisting includes walking around, helping students with all behaviors.

Teaching and demonstrating one behavior: Mentor and Mentee will decide on a behavior for Mentee to teach in class and Mentor will help Mentee prepare by instructing and demonstrating for the Mentee prior to class.

Individual Behaviors

Mentor will demonstrate the following behaviors with at least 3 different dogs, to show Mentee different ways to approach the training of a behavior:

Focus (this can be responding to the dogs name or a specific cue) using a high rate of reinforcement

Sit

Down

Stay

Mentee will present to Mentor, as if Mentor is a client, the likely reason for and solution to the following common behavior issues:

Demand barking;

Pulling on leash;

Puppy housetraining;

Resource guarding; and

On-leash reactivity.

At the end of each presentation, Mentor will give Mentee constructive feedback and make suggestions which will improve Mentee’s abilities.

Reporting

Mentor will submit a written report stating at the end of each of the three months:

What classes Mentee attended;

Which private sessions Mentee attended; and

Which behavior issues Mentee presented.

Monthly reports will include Mentor’s observations and impressions, including any concerns Mentor may have but the Mentor is encouraged to contact Raising Canine before the end of the month if the Mentor has any concerns regarding the Mentee’s performance.

At the end of the mentorship:

Mentor will submit a final written report outlining Mentor’s overall impressions of Mentee; and

Mentee and Raising Canine will have an exit interview by phone.

Compensation

Once Mentee has completed the mentorship, and Mentor has submitted all paperwork and completed the exit interview, Raising Canine will send Mentor a check for services;

Compensation includes:

$400.00;

Free attendance for the Mentor or a person of their choice in one of the following (to be redeemed within one (1) year of submission of final report) –

Any specialty course taught by Susan Smith of Raising Canine;

3 Telecourses priced at $35.00 or less; or

1 Free coaching session with Raising Canine.

Responsibilities of Mentee

General

Mentee agrees to complete the mentorship program within three months.

It shall be Mentee’s responsibility to contact Mentor as needed to arrange meeting times.

Mentee shall be a minimum of 5 minutes early for all arranged meetings.

Mentee shall give Mentor 48 hours notice if an arranged meeting needs to be cancelled, unless a medical or other emergency prevents it.

Mentee shall be well-groomed and presentable;

Mentee shall wear their Raising Canine shirt to all meetings with Mentor and when representing Mentor in any activity.

Mentee shall always be prepared with a full bait bag, clicker and an additional bag of prepared reinforcement treats – more than enough treats needed to get through the training session(s).

Mentee shall be respectful to Mentor at all times and heed Mentor’s suggestions and advice.

Private Consultations

Mentee should take notes during the consultation, if not otherwise engaged, and have thoughtful questions prepared to ask Mentor.

If Mentor asks Mentee to assist during a consultation, Mentee shall comply unless Mentee feels they are not qualified and may, in any way, endanger the client, the client’s dog, the Mentor, themselves or society.

Group Class

For all classes that Mentee observes or assists in, Mentee shall:

be available one hour before class begins, to help Mentor clean and set up for class; and

be available for one hour after class ends, to help Mentor clean and break down the class .

Mentor can request a shorter set up/break down and cleaning time, but no longer.

If Mentor holds more than one class in a row, and Mentee will only be observing one class, Mentee is only required to help with set up/break down and cleaning for the class they are observing.

Mentee will observe Mentor’s instruction techniques carefully, prepare, and practice their presentations before assisting in a group class.

Mentor is only required to have Mentee assist in one class, however if Mentor requests that Mentee assist in more than one class, Mentee will make every effort to do so.

Individual Behaviors

Mentee will present to Mentor, as if Mentor is a client, the likely reason for and solution to the following common behavior issues:

Demand barking;

Pulling on leash;

Puppy housetraining;

Resource guarding; and

On-leash reactivity.

At the end of each presentation, Mentor will give Mentee constructive feedback and make suggestions which will improve Mentee’s abilities, and Mentee will heed the feedback and incorporate it into their next presentation.

Mentee will prepare and practice their presentation prior to presenting to Mentor.

Reporting

Mentee will submit a written weekly report stating:

what classes Mentee attended;

Which private sessions Mentee attended; and

Which behavior issues Mentee presented.

Weekly reports will include Mentee’s observations and impressions, including any concerns Mentee may have.

At the end of the mentorship:

Mentee will submit a final written report outlining Mentee’s overall impressions of Mentor, the mentorship program in general, and what they learned from the experience; and

Mentor and Raising Canine will have an exit interview by phone.

Responsibilities of Raising Canine

Mentor Screening

Raising Canine will, to the best of their ability, screen the Mentor to ascertain mentor’s ability to fulfill the requirements of the mentorship program: